Mahons Donegal
Joseph Senior was the son of Patrick Mahon and Mary Gallagher of Ballymagroarty near Ballintra. Patrick's father was said to have worked for the Dundas', a local 'well to do' protestant family, as a gardener and run off with their daughter. Patrick was an only child and his mother's family became reconciled to her marriage and paid for his education as a teacher in Marlboro St.College Dublin. He was employed as a teacher in Weeault, Roscor, Belleek but was dismissed when caught teaching Catholicism. He succeeded in getting a post in Behey national school near Ballyshannon where Joseph senior and his siblings attended.
Fr Joe Mahon who went to school in Ballyshannon often illustrated the long memories of the local people by telling that when he attended the Rock school in Ballyshannon; his grandmothers origins were cast up up to him by other boys who would taunt him with, 'go away out a that, Mahon you and your auld dundas nose on ye'.
Fr Joe Mahon who went to school in Ballyshannon often illustrated the long memories of the local people by telling that when he attended the Rock school in Ballyshannon; his grandmothers origins were cast up up to him by other boys who would taunt him with, 'go away out a that, Mahon you and your auld dundas nose on ye'.